- Title: UK: BRITAIN FACES NATION-WIDE RAILSTRIKE
- Date: 9th February 1966
- Summary: VARIOUS SHOTS OF DESERTED AND IDLE SIDINGS, PLATFORMS, TRACKS AND WAGGONS. Initials JHS/V/JF/ES Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 24th February 1966 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LONDON -- U.K.
- City:
- Country: United Kingdom
- Reuters ID: LVA5X2F8O2LK9CYOG3520X02GXIL
- Story Text: BRITAIN FACES THE THREAT OF A NATION-WIDE RAIL STRIKE FROM MIDNIGHT ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 13. LEADERS OF THE COUNTRY'S THREE LARGEST RAIL UNIONS AND RAILWAYS WORKSHOPS REPRESENTATIVES WERE SCHEDULED TO HOLD CRISIS TALKS AT WHITEHALL TOMORROW (THURSDAY).
THE STRIKE THREAT BEGAN ON JANUARY 18 WHEN LEADERS OF 10,000 RAILWAYMEN IN THE MIDLANDS CALLED FOR A NATIONAL STRIKE IF THEIR DEMANDS FOR PAY AND WORKING CONDITIONS WERE NOT MET. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE NATIONAL UNION OF RAILWAYMEN DECIDED TO INSTRUCT ITS 260,000 MEMBERS TO STRIKE.
THE RAILWAYMEN WERE REPORTEDLY DISTURBED BY THE REPORT OF THE GOVERNMENT'S NATIONAL BOARD OF PRICES AND INCOMES THAT LAID DOWN THAT RISES IN PRODUCTIVITY SHOULD PRECEDE AUTOMATIC WAGE INCREASES. RAILWAYMEN ARE DUE TO GET A 3 1/2 PER CENT PAY INCREASE NEXT OCTOBER.
THE NUR GENERAL SECRETARY, MR SYDNEY GREENE, SAID RAILWAY WORKERS WOULD GET GBP3 A WEEK STRIKE PAY IF THEY WENT OUT. A NATIONAL STRIKE WOULD COST THE NUR ABOUT GBP100,000 A DAY. MR GREENE ESTIMATED THE UNION'S FUNDS COULD HOLD OUT FOR THREE WEEKS.
WITH THE STRIKE THREAT HANGING OVER THEM, MANY FIRMS WERE ARRANGING TRANSPORT AND ACCOMMODATION TO GET WHAT THEY CALLED "KEY WORKERS" TO THEIR JOBS ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14 -- THE FIRST DAY OF THE PROJECTED STRIKE.
SINCE WORLD WAR TWO, RAILWAYMEN HAVE SEVERAL TIMES THREATENED A NATIONAL STRIKE. EACH TIME THEY HAVE CALLED IT OFF AFTER NEGOTIATIONS.
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